Complimentary gift presentation with every scarf
Letters from Lanting
August 28, 2026
Momme is a traditional unit used to describe the weight of silk fabric. It is usually written as “momme” or abbreviated “mm.” A higher momme number means that a standard area of the fabric weighs more, but it does not automatically mean the silk is purer, thicker, softer or better made. Quick answer: silk momme […]
August 27, 2026
Mulberry silk is silk produced by the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori, whose principal food is the leaf of the mulberry tree. It is the silk most people encounter in fine scarves, clothing and bedding. Its long, fine filaments can be reeled into smooth, consistent yarns, but the words “mulberry silk” describe the fibre’s source—not its […]
August 27, 2026
The safest way to tell whether a scarf is real silk is to combine evidence rather than trust one home test. Begin with the fibre label and the seller’s product information. Then examine how the fabric reflects light, drapes, feels and is constructed. These clues can support a judgement, but none proves fibre content on […]
August 27, 2026
A silk scarf is one of the rare accessories that can change character without changing form. Folded narrowly, it can add a precise line of colour at the neck. Knotted to a bag, it becomes a small graphic accent. Opened across the shoulders, a larger square reveals the complete design and can take the place […]
August 27, 2026
Chinese-inspired fashion today is moving beyond literal copies of historical dress and predictable collections of dragons, red silk and gold embroidery. Its most convincing work begins with research, identifies what is visually or culturally meaningful in a source, and transforms that quality into a garment made for contemporary life. A bamboo painting might become vertical […]
August 27, 2026
Silk holds an important place in Chinese culture because it has never been only a fabric. For thousands of years, it has connected farming and craftsmanship, family and community life, wealth and social status, diplomacy and long-distance exchange, painting and embroidery, ritual and everyday beauty. Few materials have participated in so many parts of China’s […]
August 27, 2026
A meaningful gift does more than mark an occasion: it tells the recipient what you admire, hope or remember about them. Chinese art offers a rich visual language for expressing those sentiments. An orchid may honour quiet integrity, a plum blossom can recognise courage through difficulty, and a crane can carry a wish for a […]
August 26, 2026
The story of the Orchid Pavilion begins with a spring gathering in 353 CE. Wang Xizhi—later revered as China’s “Sage of Calligraphy”—and more than forty companions met near Shanyin, in present-day Zhejiang, for a purification festival. Beside a winding stream, they drank wine, composed poems and enjoyed the landscape. Wang then wrote a preface for […]
August 26, 2026
In Chinese culture, the plum blossom most strongly symbolizes resilience, perseverance, renewal and hope. It flowers while winter still holds the landscape, sending delicate blossoms from dark, apparently lifeless branches. That contrast—beauty emerging from hardship—has made the plum a lasting image of inner strength, moral integrity and the promise of spring. Its meaning is rich […]
July 28, 2026
A meaningful scarf gift begins with the person, not the product. Consider what the recipient wears, the colours they return to, how they might style a scarf and what you want the gift to express. Then choose a design whose story, scale and presentation feel genuinely connected to them. The best scarf is not necessarily […]
